Seeley Lake-Missoula County Sewer District

Key discussions included correspondence with DNRC regarding a requirement for new property buyers to sign a waiver to join the sewer district, potentially increasing volume by 20%. The Board approved monthly expenditures totaling $3,501.32. The Manager's Report noted organization of office files onto Google Drive and updates on workers compensation, fee research, and drafting annexation petition forms. Old Business focused on annexation, discussing the ability to expand capacity, the need for written consent from property owners, and review of draft petition forms pending legal review. The Board agreed to issue a letter of support for a CRC septic pumping grant for low-income households or those near surface water. New business involved a discussion on rewriting manager/secretary contracts.

The regular board meeting and subsequent public hearing addressed several critical items. Key discussions included forming a committee to review options regarding a mill's fee assessment complaint. Financial matters involved reviewing and approving invoices for December 2019, and approving the financial reports for June, July, and August 2019. The Manager's Report covered the status of the public hearing notice, costs related to drilling a well and formaldehyde testing, Phase I property connection statistics, and updates on easement statuses. During the public hearing, the Board considered amending Resolution#09072016A to adjust sub-district boundaries (2, 3, and 4) to include specific properties, ultimately approving the motion to move two Smith properties and the Lindemer property into sub-district No. 2. The regular meeting reconvened to address Old Business, including a legal update on an ongoing court matter, and the approval of Section 14 ("Duties") of the By-Laws, incorporating specific legal recommendations, while deferring the conflict of interest language. New Business included approving a letter of engagement for an attorney, with the Board aiming to put the project out to bid in February.

The board meeting involved reviewing and approving correspondence, including an email about delayed grant funding and confirmations of an approved $50,000 reimbursement grant and an impending $38,358.00 Department of Commerce grant. Key discussion points in the manager's report centered on rewriting employee contracts due to Department of Labor guidance and exploring options for workers' compensation insurance. Old business focused heavily on land purchase negotiations for a wastewater treatment facility, emphasizing the need to secure a ballpark price before incurring further engineering costs due to uncertain funding. The board also discussed annexation requirements, including forming a committee for impact fees and addressing financial concerns for lower-income residents transitioning to district service. Implementation steps included finalizing the manager contract, obtaining workers' comp quotes, and continuing work with engineers and grant writers.

The regular board meeting agenda was approved with modifications, noting a letter from Don Larson regarding attorney review that was postponed. During public comments, concerns were raised about the proposed sewage treatment plant location near Cottonwood Lake Road, specifically regarding groundwater quality, nitrate concentration, and the lack of comprehensive analysis. A request was made to move two lots from Phase II to Phase I, which was tabled for the December agenda, along with a cost inquiry for low-income housing hookups. Correspondence included discussion on well and lake testing, district boundaries, and a letter from Carleen Gonder prompting exploration of public outreach and financial assistance for low-income residents. The DEQ discharge permit application was confirmed complete. The Board approved the October 2019 invoices. The Manager's Report covered communication grant applications, website material development, and updates on easements and the project budget. The Public Hearing addressed Resolution #111212019 Rules & Regulations, including discussions on short-lived asset funds, water meter installation, and over-density fees, leading to an agreement by consensus to change the plant investment fee to a system investment fee. The Board approved the opinion of probable annual operation and maintenance costs and approved the rules and regulations as modified, including appendices, with one nay vote. In Old Business of the reconvened regular meeting, updates were provided on a lawsuit, with a pre-trial conference set for January 15, 2020. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding alternative systems for Phases III & IV, where the Board ultimately moved to proceed with the current Great West Engineering plan for Phases I & II to avoid losing substantial funding, while allowing additional investigation for future phases. The purpose section of the by-laws was amended, and the Board approved the by-laws as modified, excluding Section 14 -- The Duties, which requires further development. New Business included authorizing the drafting of resolutions to amend subdistricts for consideration in December, related to a property boundary alteration request. Further Old Business included authorizing negotiations up to $15,000 for the Pine Street easement, discussion on the fee assessment methodology, and a request for a recommendation on replacing Test Well#2 and further research on formaldehyde testing. New Business included a recommendation to dig test wells in Phases III & IV and agreeing on sending out a letter to Phase I property owners within one week.

Key discussions included the President's comments emphasizing the balance between flexibility and rigidity in problem-solving, and updates on recent conversations regarding grant information and potential collaboration with county staff. The Board addressed the transition to verbatim minutes for legal documentation. Financial reports featured invoices for administrative support, elections, fee assessments, and consulting services from Great West Engineering, which raised concerns regarding billing amounts exceeding the contract for TSEP consulting; the Board moved to approve these invoices. Correspondence focused on the TSEP grant status, specifically concerning an environmental assessment notice issue which management is addressing. Old Business centered on 'Filling Holes in Essential Information,' where the Board compiled a list of information requests, including the scope of the Tester grant and comprehensive costs. A discussion ensued regarding establishing a secure County email system for the Board members, which was tabled pending legal clarification on quorum discussions via email. The Income Survey task was reviewed, noting past difficulties in collection and plans to work with the County for immediate action. The By-Laws discussion was postponed. New Business included revisiting and potentially amending a 2017 resolution related to a project endorsement, although legal counsel suggested caution regarding jeopardizing funding. An update on the Donald Larson lawsuit indicated the judge was reviewing materials, with a decision on preliminary injunction expected within weeks. Employee Roles and Responsibilities was postponed due to a pending formal hearing. A public hearing opened regarding the annual assessment fee methodology, clarifying that the hearing was to protest methodology, not the assessment amount itself which was previously adopted. Discussions continued on managing communication, including the confusion over multiple websites (one managed by Great West Engineering and one on the County page), and establishing committees for the Income Survey and User Contracts. Finally, the status of Rural Development Conflict of Interest policy compliance and the project schedule timeline was discussed.